NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Govt targets 17 million tonnes mustard production by 2025-26: The Government
plans to bring around nine million hectares of land under mustard cultivation
and raise the production to around 17 million tonnes (mt) by 2025-26, according
to Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary (Oilseeds), Union Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers’ Welfare. In the Rabi of 2021, the area covered under mustard was
around 7.3 million hectares and an increase of around 4 lakh hectares over the
Rabi of 2020. To achieve the target for 2025-26, it is being planned to provide
high quality seeds to the farmers, and the Government has embarked upon a
proper seed planning.
2.
Haryana allots 140 acre land to Flipkart for setting up its largest fulfilment
centre in Asia:
The Haryana government has approved allotment of 140 acres of land to
e-commerce major Flipkart for setting up its largest fulfilment centre in Asia,
having a covered area of 3 million square feet in PatliHajipur in Gurugram
district’s Manesar. The land, belonging to Haryana State Industrial and
Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HSIIDC), has been allotted at a
price of Rs 3.22 crore per acre.
3.
Anand Mahindra launches Project ‘Oxygen on Wheels’: The Mahindra Group
Chairman, Anand Mahindra has rolled out a project titled ‘Oxygen on Wheels’ to
ease the transportation of oxygen from producing plants to hospitals and homes,
following acute oxygen shortage amid a severe second wave of coronavirus. The
‘Oxygen on Wheels’ initiative will bridge the gap between oxygen production and
its transportation in India, especially in Maharashtra.
Under the initiative:
(1) Mahindra has lined up around 70 Bolero
pickup trucks to connect oxygen producers with hospitals and homes, to deliver
oxygen cylinders.
(2) The project is being implemented
through Mahindra Logistics.
(3) Apart from this, an operations control
centre has been established and the storage location is replenished from the
local refilling plant. A direct-to-consumer model is also being conceived.
Note: Mahindra Group CEO: Pawan Kumar
Goenka; Mahindra Group Founded: 2 October 1945, Ludhiana.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
India, Russia to establish a ‘2+2 ministerial dialogue’: India and Russia
have agreed to establish a ‘2+2 Ministerial Dialogue’ at the Foreign
&Defence Minister level between the two countries. Russia is the 4th
country and 1st Non-Quad member country with which India has established the
‘2+2 Ministerial dialogue’ mechanism. India has such a mechanism with the US,
Japan and Australia. It is expected to boost the bilateral strategic
partnership between India & Russia. INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS:
(1) Relations between India and Russia are
rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. This is a
strategic partnership that has withstood the test of time, and which enjoys the
support of the people of both countries.
(2) Diplomatic relations between India and
Russia began even before India achieved independence, on 13 April 1947.
(3) In the period immediately following
independence, the goal for India was attaining economic self-sufficiency
through investment in heavy industry. The Soviet Union invested in several new
enterprises in the areas of heavy machine-building, mining, energy production
and steel plants.
(4) During India’s second Five Year Plan,
of the sixteen heavy industry projects set up, eight were initiated with the
help of the Soviet Union. This included the establishment of the world-famous
IIT Bombay.
Note: Russia President: Vladimir Putin;
Russia Capital: Moscow; Russia Currency: Russian Ruble.
2.
World Press Freedom Day: 3rd May: World Press Freedom Day is observed
globally on 3 May every year. It is also known as World Press Day. The day also
pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives. They risk their lives at
times or may even have to face tough situations in order to bring the news from
different corners of the world in front of the public. This year’s World Press
Freedom Day theme “Information as a Public Good”. The theme is of urgent
relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing
communications system that is impacting our health, our human rights,
democracies and sustainable development.
History of World Freedom Day: The General
Assembly in the United Nations established World Freedom Day in 1993 to promote
the independence of the Africa Press. This was followed by the Windhoek
Declaration that was established to maintain the free press. As the declaration
was made on the 3rd of May, hence the special day is observed each year on 3rd
May.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Sri Lankan all-rounder ThisaraPerera Announces Retirement: Sri Lankan
all-rounder and former captain, ThisaraPerera has announced his retirement from
international cricket, ending his international career which spanned nearly 12
years. Perera played six Tests, 166 ODIs (2338 runs, 175 wickets), and 84 T20Is
(1204 runs, 51 wickets) for Sri Lanka, after making his debut in December 2009.
The 32-year-old would continue to play domestic and franchise cricket.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
SIDBI launches SHWAS and AROG Loan Schemes for MSMEs: The Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has launched two loan products for
MSMEs to help them with the required financial support in the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic. These two new quick credit delivery schemes will facilitate
funding for production and services related to the supply of oxygen cylinders,
oxygen concentrators, oximeters and essential drugs by MSMEs. The two new loan
products are:
(1) SHWAS – SIDBI assistance to Healthcare
sector in War Against Second wave of COVID19.
(2) AROG – SIDBI Assistance to MSMEs for
Recovery & Organic Growth during COVID19 pandemic.
The schemes are devised under the guidance
of the Government of India (GoI) which facilitates funding for production and
services related to the supply of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators,
oximeters and essential drugs.
Note: CMD of SIDBI: S Ramann; SIDBI set up
on 2nd April 1990; SIDBI Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
2. T
Rabi Sankar named RBI deputy governor: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) executive
director T Rabi Sankar has been named as the fourth Deputy Governor of the
central bank. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his
appointment. He is in charge of the payments system, fintech, information
technology and risk management at the RBI. He succeeds BP Kanungo as the deputy
governor, who retired on April 2 after getting a one-year extension in his
position.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
GST revenues touch all-time high of ₹1.41 lakh crore in April: Gross revenues
from the Goods and Services Tax hit a record high of ₹1.41 lakh crore in April
2021 in India, suggesting economic activity may not yet be as badly affected
amidst the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as last year. April’s
GST collections surpassed the previous highest collections of ₹1.24 lakh crore
in March 2021 by 14%, and mark the seventh month in a row since October that
GST revenues have crossed ₹1 lakh crore. List of GST Collection previous
months:
March 2021: Rs. 1.24lacs cr.
Feb 2021: Rs 1,13,143 crore
January 2021: ₹ 1,19,847 crore
2.
Wipro overtakes HCL Tech to become third most-valued Indian IT firm: Wipro regained its
position as the 3rd largest Indian IT services company by market capitalization
of ₹ 2.65 trillion by suppressing HCL Technologies’ ₹ 2.62 trillion market cap.
TCS remains at the top of the list with a market cap of ₹ 11.51 trillion
followed by Infosys. Wipro has also announced its commitment to achieving
net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, in line with the objective of
the Paris Agreement to cap temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. The
country’s third-largest largest software services company has set an
intermediate target of 55 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 in
absolute emission levels compared to its base year of 2016-17 (April-March).
Note: Chairman of Wipro Limited:
RishadPremji; Wipro Headquarters: Bengaluru; Wipro MD and CEO: Thierry
Delaporte.
DEFENCE
1.
Indian Navy launches Operation SamudraSetu-II: The Indian Navy has
launched Operation SamudraSetu-II to help in faster transportation of medical
oxygen and other requirements from other countries to India, amid its worsening
COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of operation ‘SamudraSetu II’, seven Indian Naval
ships have been deployed for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic
containers and associated medical equipment from various countries. These
warships are Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa and Airavat. In
2020, the Indian Navy launched Operation SamudraSetu, as part of the Vande
Bharat Mission, to repatriate approximately 4,000 stranded and distressed
Indian citizens from the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Iran.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral
Karambir Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.
OBITUARIES
1. Sitar maestro PanditDevabrata Chaudhuri Passes Away: Sitar maestro PanditDebu Chaudhuri has passed away following COVID-19 related complications. The Legend of Sitar belonged to the Senia or Gharana style of music. He had been awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He was also a teacher and writer and had penned six books and composed many new ragas.
No comments:
Post a Comment